Piho Rua
Encyclopedia
Piho Rua is a Cook Islands
politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament
.
Rua was born on Rakahanga
and educated at Aitutaki Junior High School and Tereora College. He had a twenty year career as a police officer before becoming a public servant and serving as Chief Executive of the Prime Minister’s Office. While serving in that role, Rua advocated for tight control of the media to prevent stories critical of the government. He also attracted controversy after being promoted to the rank of police superintendent, despite having left the police force.
He was first elected to Parliament at the 2004 election
, winning the seat of Rakahanga
from Speaker of the House
and former Prime Minister
Pupuke Robati
. The election was later subject to an unsuccessful electoral petition. During the post-election period he was courted by Prime Minister Robert Woonton
, but declined to join his new party. When Woonton resigned his seat, he supported Jim Marurai
as Prime Minister, and was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Culture, Tourism, and the Public Service Commission.
Rua was forced to resign from Cabinet in May 2005 after concerns over his handling of his ministries. A subsequent audit of ministerial expenses revealed that Rua had spent $US4,500 on personal phone calls in just six months in office; he agreed to repay the money.
In December 2005, Rua was accused of selling pirated DVDs of Peter jackson's King Kong
through his retail store.
In 2006, Rua aligned himself with the opposition Cook Islands Party
in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the governing coalition in a confidence vote.
In September 2010 Rua announced that he was retiring from politics and would not contest the 2010 election
.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament
Parliament of the Cook Islands
The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....
.
Rua was born on Rakahanga
Rakahanga
Rakahanga, part of the Cook Islands in the central-southern Pacific Ocean, is one of the most unspoiled places on earth. The atoll is 1,248 kilometres from the Cook Islands capital, Rarotonga and lies 1,111 kilometres from the equator...
and educated at Aitutaki Junior High School and Tereora College. He had a twenty year career as a police officer before becoming a public servant and serving as Chief Executive of the Prime Minister’s Office. While serving in that role, Rua advocated for tight control of the media to prevent stories critical of the government. He also attracted controversy after being promoted to the rank of police superintendent, despite having left the police force.
He was first elected to Parliament at the 2004 election
Cook Islands general election, 2004
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 7 September 2004. Initial results showed the Democratic Party winning by a wide margin, but close results led to 11 electoral petitions being filed, delaying the date Parliament could sit until mid-December...
, winning the seat of Rakahanga
Rakahanga (Cook Islands electorate)
Rakahanga is a Cook Islands electoral division returning one member to the Cook Islands Parliament. Its current representative is Piho Rua, who has held the seat since 2004.The electorate consists of the island of Rakahanga....
from Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament
The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. The manage the House in accordance with its Standing Orders and according to the traditions of the Westminster system....
and former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the official rsponsible for heading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's government in the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was first granted to the islands...
Pupuke Robati
Pupuke Robati
Sir Pupuke Robati KBE was a Cook Island politician who was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 29 July 1987 to 1 February 1989....
. The election was later subject to an unsuccessful electoral petition. During the post-election period he was courted by Prime Minister Robert Woonton
Robert Woonton
Dr Robert Woonton was the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 11 February 2002 until 11 December 2004, and is a member of the centrist Democratic Party. A medical doctor by training, he became a Member of Parliament for the island of Manihiki...
, but declined to join his new party. When Woonton resigned his seat, he supported Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai
Jim Marurai is a Cook Islands politician and former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life:...
as Prime Minister, and was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Culture, Tourism, and the Public Service Commission.
Rua was forced to resign from Cabinet in May 2005 after concerns over his handling of his ministries. A subsequent audit of ministerial expenses revealed that Rua had spent $US4,500 on personal phone calls in just six months in office; he agreed to repay the money.
In December 2005, Rua was accused of selling pirated DVDs of Peter jackson's King Kong
King Kong (2005 film)
King Kong is a 2005 fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name and stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. Andy Serkis, through performance capture, portrays Kong....
through his retail store.
In 2006, Rua aligned himself with the opposition Cook Islands Party
Cook Islands Party
The Cook Islands Party is a nationalist political party in the Cook Islands. It was the first political party founded in the Cook Islands, and one of the two major parties of the Islands' politics since 1965....
in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the governing coalition in a confidence vote.
In September 2010 Rua announced that he was retiring from politics and would not contest the 2010 election
Cook Islands general election, 2010
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 17 November 2010 in order to elect 24 MPs to the Cook Islands Parliament. The elections were won by the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats...
.
External links
- Profile at Cook Islands Parliament.